A new preventive measure for Orthodox journalists to be determined by court

Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv. Photo: advokat-ua.info

On May 8, 2024, the Solomiansky District Court of Kyiv will consider the prosecution's motion regarding the precautionary measure for Orthodox journalists Valeriy Stupnitsky, Andriy Ovcharenko, and Volodymyr Bobechko, as reported by the UOJ correspondent.

The two months spent in a pre-trial detention center by the journalists, starting from their arrest on March 12, 2024, are set to expire on May 9.

During the hearing, the court is expected to decide on a new preventive measure. SBU investigators propose extending the detention of Orthodox journalists for another 2 months without the option of bail.

As reported by the UOJ, on the same day, a court hearing will be held regarding the case of Archpriest Serhiy Chertylin.

On April 8, a court session was held for the appellate appeal of the precautionary measure for Valeriy Stupnitsky, who is in custody. On April 9, the court considered the appellate complaint regarding Andriy Ovcharenko. The court dismissed both appeals to change the measure of restraint for the UOJ journalists.

Earlier, following the detention of UOJ journalists and human rights defenders by the SBU, an open appeal was sent by the Union of Orthodox Journalists to international human rights organizations.

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